Bogus state inspector trying to extort nail salons

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The State Regulation and Licensing Department's cosmetology board is searching for a man claiming to be a state inspector and has been attempting to swindle small businesses.

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RLD said the phony inspector has been targeting nail salons. The state believes he has called at least a dozen salons and demanded that they pay him anywhere from $500 to $1,200 or go to court in order to avoid closure.

Down to the last detail, Club and Spa Nail Salon owner Shaina Tran makes sure her customers feel flawless. It’s only natural that Tran notices when something is out of place. Tran was one of the fake inspector's targets. He called her claiming he was from the State Regulation and Licensing Department and demanded that Tran pay a fine in order to keep her salon license.

"He said that if you want to avoid court, you need to send us $500," she said.

He also called La Luxe Nail Salon owner Nini Nguyen.

"I was very scared,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen said it seemed real at first. The man spoke Vietnamese. Though the caller never visited Nguyen’s salon in person, she said he knew the name of the last state inspector who paid her a visit.

"So when he called from the office, it was the state board office phone number," Nguyen said.

Even the paperwork inspector imposter had sent her had a New Mexico state seal. The paperwork appeared to be legitimate because there were signatures of state employees. What felt wrong to Nguyen was what the alleged inspector sent her over text message.

4 Investigates followed a real state inspector to see how legitimate inspections are actually conducted. When state inspector Cres Archuleta first steps into a salon, he's looking for more than smudges and stains. He asks employees to see their licenses. Each license has an employee’s photo.

If there is a violation during the inspection, Archuleta schedules a re-inspection within 30 days. It gives the salon a chance to correct the violation before getting fined.